Thanks guys. I'm sort of a noob to the V6 but not to Buick motors in general. I've played with the 215 for 3 decades, built a blower motor and am in the process of building a blown 340 for my car:
BritishV8 Forum: 340 upgrade
Jim Blackwood's wicked blown Oldsmobile 215cid powered MGB and I'm also president of the "Deviants" who are building a 455 MGB-GT:
BritishV8 Forum: MGB Roadmaster
YouTube - B.A.D.A.S.S. MGB-Roadmaster 1st drive (3)
I've been a strong supporter of the Buick V6 engine in terms of it's suitability as a powerplant in small British cars. Although as yet we don't have a great number of those cars documented we're working on it.
So I'm not totally in the dark but I sure appreciate your help since there are a lot of things specific to the V6 that I don't know. Like not being intimately familiar with the production changes and when they occurred, or with the interchangeability of parts. So to be more specific about what I'm doing here, I found a TR7 to buy my wife for her birthday. It had to have an automatic tranny and this one which has the Buick engine and a 700r4 was an exceptionally good candidate (the John's Cars kit was a plus, and it uses a 1/8" thick adapter plate to mount the 700r4). The problem is something that you guys will probably recognize immediately. John made his kits to work with a 4bbl engine, using an Edelbrock triangular foam element air filter, and everything tucks in there nicely. However the builder of this particular car used a 2bbl engine and apparently the 2bbl carb is centered further back on the intake. Our intrepid builder simply taped over the rear of the opening on the air filter and sat it on the 2bbl carb, where it interferes with the hood latch mechanism and the fresh air plenum for the cabin, which he left off. This allows engine compartment air into the car, obviously not a good thing.
Now I have 2 choices as I see it. I can configure the engine as John expected it to be (and get more power, which Edith most definitely does not have to have but which I will enjoy when I drive the car), or I can construct a cold air inlet and remote filter for the 2bbl. Likely as not the last of those choices will be the least expensive, but also the least pleasing. A possible 3rd choice might be if Edelbrock makes a 2bbl filter.
I appreciate the recommendation to read the posts in the Black section and will, as time goes on try to make my way through them. But there is a lot to read. How much of it is specific to 4bbl intakes? A little here and a little there I'd guess, and though it'll be fun finding those tidbits, not particularly fast. I just want to make sure before I start seriously shopping for parts that I'm not trying to buy something that won't do me any good, that's all. So thanks for the good advice and I'll try to keep you guys in the loop, and if you like, on the other two cars as well. Go Buick!
Jim
A.j.
